The First Legal 'Physician-Assisted Suicide'

On September 22nd 1996, an Australian doctor called Phillip Nitschke, helped cancer sufferer Bob Dent, to die. He had connected a computer to a syringe full of lethal drugs - allowing Bob Dent to choose the time of his death. It was all done under a new law which had just been brought in to Australia's Northern Territory. But soon afterwards, politicians began working to overturn that law. Kevin Andrews MP, led the campaign to outlaw assisted suicide in Australia. Both he, and Dr Nitschke have been speaking to Ashley Byrne about the case.

Photo: Dr Nitschke with his computer and automated syringe. Copyright: Philip Nitschke.